Five players that will be key in Real Madrid’s road to a 16th Champions League title | OneFootball

Real Madrid are the team to beat heading into the 2024-25 season, and their stature as the best team in the world is well justified at this point.

The reigning Spanish and European Champions enjoyed a special run last season and were virtually unbeatable. In fact, they only lost two games all campaign, both of which came against Atletico Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti’s side are now at the doorstep, albeit with significant changes to the squad. While the likes of Toni Kroos and Nacho Fernandez are no longer at the club, others like Kylian Mbappe and Endrick have taken their place in the dressing room.

All eyes, thus, will be on whether Los Blancos can keep up the same level of performance after the alterations in the squad. The UEFA Champions League, needless to say, will continue to be the primary objective.

Madrid Universal brings you a list of five players who will be key if the Merengues are to win their 16th UCL title this season.

Kylian Mbappe

All eyes on Mbappe. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

It is terrifying to see Kylian Mbappe join an already UEFA Champions League squad. If anything, however, his arrival only furthers the pressure on Real Madrid to defend their title and a large chunk of the pressure will be on the Frenchman.

After suffering a blow to his nose in the recently concluded Euro 2024, Mbappe endured a largely average event in Germany where he was far from his clinical best in the final third.

Heading into the new season with a new club, there is thus undoubtedly a lot of pressure on the former PSG stat especially considering the high standards he has set for himself.

A large part of Real Madrid’s run in the UCL, thus, will depend on Mbappe’s form, leadership and Carlo Ancelotti’s ability to maximise his output on the field.

Eder Militao

Militao on the comeback trail. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

Eder Militao missed most of Real Madrid’s campaign last season, leaving Nacho Fernandez and Antonio Rudiger as the manager’s first-choice defensive pairing for the better part of the season.

Now fully recovered, rested and raring to go, Militao will look to earn back his position as Ancelotti’s favourite defender and will start the season as part of the starting defensive pairing.

It is often said that a player is never the same after an ACL injury, and it will thus be interesting to see if the player can keep up his clinical tackles, distribution and speed on the field in the coming campaign.

In any case, a large part of how Real Madrid’s run in the UCL will depend on Militao’s form and fitness, especially given the lack of depth in the department.

Thibaut Courtois

The main man in goal. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER/AFP via Getty Images)

Just as Militao is looking for redemption in a season after the one affected by his ACL injury, Thibaut Courtois is hunting on similar grounds.

Courtois, over the years, has established himself as one of the best goalkeepers in the world not only for his raw shot-stopping but also for his ability to step up under the most severe pressure.

While Andriy Lunin did a fabulous job to cover for the Belgian last time out, Courtois will return as Real Madrid’s first-choice goalkeeper this season.

As has been the case over the past several years, his leadership and ability to stay calm in the face of adversity will largely dictate how far the team progresses in Europe.

Aurelien Tchouameni

Real Madrid’s midfield general. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

The competition in Real Madrid’s midfield ahead of the 2024-25 campaign is simply brutal. One player who has his position fixed in stone, however, is Aurelien Tchouameni.

The Frenchman is Los Blancos’ only natural defensive midfielder and will thus start at the base of midfield week in and week out.

With a far more attack-oriented squad compared to last season, the onus of maintaining the balance and holding the fortress will thus weigh heavier than before on the 24-year-old.

Further, Ancelotti largely views the Frenchman to be the squad’s best player to cover the centre-back position when either starting option is injured or rested. His ability to operate in the foreign niche, needless to say, will count for a lot until David Alaba returns.

Dani Carvajal

More trophies in store for Carvajal? (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Real Madrid’s recently crowned European Champion, Dani Carvajal, did not play a part in pre-season as he enjoyed his much-deserved vacation.

He will, however, be back for the team’s official games and it is safe to say that he will play a pivotal role in the upcoming season.

Carvajal, at this point, is one of the few veterans remaining in the team who warrants an unchallenged starting position on the field.

His experience and leadership, thus, will be invaluable for the men in white especially in high-pressure situations in the UCL. As one who has lived and conquered the Champions League life for years, there are few players more qualified than the Spaniard.

Even apart from his rich experience, Carvajal is amongst the best active right-backs in world football and could well serve as the difference maker on the big European nights.